Won't You Stay This Time?

Clawed Butler (Part 2)

~~Claire's POV~~

"What brings you to our door at this late hour?", Claude asked Sebastian, who was still standing out in the rain. I was in complete shock at the sight before me.

Wh-... What is he doing here...? Why is he here?

"I've been caught outside in this wicked storm", Sebastian replied, keeping his face hidden. "I was hoping I might trouble you for lodgings tonight." Claude stared at Sebastian in silence for a moment before Alois peeked out from behind him curiously. He came out from behind Claude with a gasp.

"Look at you!", he nearly laughed. "You're so filthy! You look just like a drowned rat!" Alois chuckled and stood on his tiptoes to get closer to Sebastian. "But still..." He sniffed Sebastian, which didn't surprise me, but it was a bit awkward. "You do smell rather nice, so what's your name?" When Sebastian didn't provide him with an answer, Alois stood flat on his feet once more and looked at Claude and I, Claude in particular. "This man will be staying with us. Understood, Claude?"

Claude narrowed his eyes at Alois as another bolt of lightning struck, immediately accompanied by a clash of thunder. Alois was quick to lead Sebastian to the dining area, where Claude served him food shortly after. I stood nearby and watched, noting that Sebastian hadn't let his trunk more than a foot at most away from him.

"Try this one", Alois suggested to Sebastian, lifting a plate of food towards him. "Claude's cooking is simply delicious!"

"Yes, I'm sure it tastes quite nice. However...", Sebastian began. He hadn't bothered to remove his hat or coat and kept his face concealed, leading me to wonder if there was a reason behind his actions. "Please observe the speck of sauce on the rim of the plate." Claude looked at Sebastian from the corner of his eye. "I assume it would've been too great an inconvenience to dab it with a cloth." Claude bowed briefly.

"My apologies, Sir. I'll clear this", he said as he reached for the plate. "I didn't realize a man who doesn't remove his coat at the dining table would have such delicate sensibilities."

"You flatter me", Sebastian replied as Claude took the plate and left. Alois smirked, seeming to be amused by the scene.

Shortly after the incident, I was instructed to escort Sebastian to a guest room. The walk there was silent and it remained that way as Sebastian walked to the bed with his trunk and sat down while I lit the candles in the room to provide him with some light.

"...Why are you here?", I hesitantly asked. My voice was quiet as I wasn't sure I wanted to know, but it was loud enough for Sebastian to hear.

"I'm not quite sure I know what you mean", he replied innocently. "If I may ask, how far along are you? It doesn't look as if you should still be working."

"Eight and a half months. I shouldn't be, but then again I'm working in a place similar to Hell on Earth", I replied before I finally turned to face him, deciding to entertain his actions for a bit.

"That's quite a ways, though I'm sure this is nothing compared to Hell itself", he said. "And the father? Where is he?" I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth at his question.

"You know damn well what happened to him, Sebastian. Cut the act", I demanded in a low voice. "Presumably, he's dead, but since you've showed up I'm not sure what became of him." I noticed a smirk come to his lips from what little of his face I could see.

"You're just as clever as I remember, Claire", he commented.

"I'll ask again. Why are you here?", I asked.

"You'll see soon enough, but I'm sure you don't want anyone else to overhear our conversation", he replied.

"What–", I began, but as I started to speak a knock was heard at the door. I looked towards it, just as Sebastian did, and saw Hannah open the door. She was holding a pitcher in her hand and was now wearing a bandage over her eye.